PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E309

26m 44s

The class of 2024 reflects on their unique school experience

5m 14s

With graduation season in full swing, the class of 2024 is reflecting on a highly unusual four years of school. Their freshman experience was marked by pandemic lockdowns, but that was just the first in a chain of momentous global events. We spoke to some members of this class about how they're looking back and forward.

New technology helping identify remains of service members

7m 34s

On this Memorial Day, nearly 81,000 American service personnel remain missing from previous wars. The vast majority were lost some 80 years ago in World War II. Cutting-edge technology is allowing the military to identify remains thought to be unidentifiable. It is allowing the military to fulfill its promise to leave no one behind. Nick Schifrin reports.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on the state of the campaign

8m 48s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including where the 2024 presidential race stands ahead of the summer campaign season, where President Biden is trailing in the polls, a shift in the electorate and misconceptions about the economy.

How policing has changed 4 years after George Floyd's murder

6m 56s

This month marked four years since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. Floyd’s killing sparked a global uprising and sweeping promises of racial justice and police reform. But four years later, there’s been some backlash to the changes that were set into motion and in some cases, public attitudes have changed. Geoff Bennett discussed that with Phillip Atiba Solomon.

News Wrap: 2,000 killed in Papua New Guinea landslide

4m 51s

In our news wrap Monday, a government official in Papua New Guinea says more than 2,000 people were buried alive in Friday's landslide, Spain pledged to supply Ukraine with more air defense missiles, the IAEA says Iran has further enlarged its stockpile of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels and basketball legend Bill Walton died after a long battle with cancer.

Experts weigh in as Netanyahu calls Rafah strike a mistake

8m 25s

Israel's airstrike on a tent camp in Rafah killed scores of civilians and led to more global outcry. To discuss how it happened and its wider significance, Amna Nawaz spoke with Noura Erakat, an associate professor at Rutgers University and a human rights lawyer, and retired Israeli Col. Pnina Sharvit Baruch, a senior research fellow at the Israel Institute for National Security Studies.

Amid tornado wave, experts expect active hurricane season

6m 41s

A wave of tornadoes cut brutal paths of destruction through many towns over the weekend, killing at least 21 people, including two children. Some experts say this tornado season is looking like the most active since 2017. Geoff Bennett discussed what’s happening now and the concerns as hurricane season approaches with Jeff Berardelli, chief meteorologist at WFLA News in Tampa.

Israeli airstrike on Rafah tent camp kills 45 Palestinians

3m 8s

Global outcry continued Monday after an Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah killed dozens of Palestinians. Israel said it was targeting two Hamas leaders. The strike comes just days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah. Amna Nawaz reports.

Why SNAP benefits aren’t keeping up with rising food costs

6m 43s

The five-year farm bill is working its way through Congress, and one major sticking point this year is funding for the federal program that helps low-income people buy food. An analysis by the Urban Institute found that SNAP benefits in 2023 did not cover the rising cost of groceries in 98 percent of U.S. counties. Ali Rogin speaks with Urban Institute senior fellow Elaine Waxman to learn more.

Tyson Foods is polluting U.S. waterways, report says

5m 46s

Tyson Foods is one of the world’s biggest meat and poultry producers. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, it’s also a major polluter in the United States. A new report from the group says Tyson plants dumped more than 371 million pounds of pollutants into U.S. waterways between 2018 and 2022. John Yang speaks with UCS research director Stacy Woods about the report’s findings.

Grammy-winning teacher Annie Ray on music education for all

7m 27s

The end of the school year often means year-end concerts for student orchestras and choirs. For high school music educator Annie Ray, it’s time to look back on a busy year that included a Grammy award and look ahead at her vision of what education should be. Ali Rogin sits down with Ray for the latest installment of our “Weekend Spotlight” series.

The story of Chinese American movie star Anna May Wong

3m 46s

Anna May Wong was a pioneering actress considered to be the first major Asian American film star, despite the limits imposed by Hollywood’s racism. As this year’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month draws to a close, we bring you her story as part of our “Hidden Histories” series.

How George Floyd’s death changed Minneapolis, 4 years later

6m 12s

Four years ago today, the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers ignited international protests over racism and calls for police reforms. Despite that global reach, it is still very much a local trauma for Minneapolis. John Yang speaks with Minnesota Public Radio senior reporter Jon Collins about how the lasting effects of Floyd’s death continue to shape the city.

Exhausted Ukrainian forces fight to contain Russian advances

4m 24s

Along the Russia-Ukraine border, badly stretched Ukrainian forces are struggling to deny Russia a foothold. The town of Vovchansk, three miles inside the border, has seen some of the fiercest fighting since Russia launched its offensive in 2022. John Ray of Independent Television News joined soldiers from Ukraine’s 57th Brigade there and has this report from the front line.

Why a wave of legislation seeks to restrict sex education

7m 26s

What constitutes sexual education and the grade in which it’s taught varies greatly in America, and 2024 is shaping up to set a record for legislative proposals mostly aimed at restricting the subject in schools. Sara Flowers, vice president of education at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, joins Ali Rogin to discuss the increasingly complicated nature of sex education.

Brooks and Capehart on Nikki Haley supporting Trump

12m 11s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including Nikki Haley's announcement she's backing Donald Trump, how voters may react to the verdict in Trump's criminal trial and President Biden's attempt to appeal to Black and Hispanic voters as polls show Trump is gaining their support.

Airlines working to create sustainable aviation fuel

8m 21s

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer travel season and that means a lot of driving and flying. When discussing greenhouse gas emissions, the focus is usually on cars and trucks since they generate the most. But the aviation sector is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien looks at efforts to create greener fuels for the skies.

British pubs struggle to survive as drinkers stay home

5m 14s

A historic bicentennial anniversary is upon us. The humble pint is now 200 years old. That staple measurement of bar life was first introduced in 1824 to placate British drinkers who claimed taverns were cheating them of precious ale. Now those public houses are facing a crisis: what happens when the public no longer heads to the pub? Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports.

Thousands flee Myanmar amid flare up in civil war fighting

6m 46s

Myanmar’s civil war has taken a critical turn in recent weeks following a series of defeats for the military junta that reclaimed power in 2021. The exiled civilian government, deposed in that coup, says victory for their resistance is coming soon. But there are fears of a violent struggle as the military attempts to regain lost ground. Special correspondent Patrick Fok reports.

Louisiana reclassifies abortion pills, restricting access

5m 32s

A bill that would restrict access to abortion pills has been signed into law in Louisiana. The law reclassifies the drugs as a controlled substance, grouping them with Xanax and Valium. Possession without a prescription from a specially licensed doctor could be punishable by 5 years in prison. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the New Orleans Health Department.

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